Latch for disc drives
US6535357B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 26, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 18, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 26, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B5/54
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A latch for a disc drive, the disc drive having an actuator pivotally supported for moving an array of read/write heads radially across a data storage disc between a parking zone and a data storage zone, the parking zone providing a parking surface for the read/write heads when the disc drive is non-operational, the latch preventing the actuator from pivoting so that the read/write heads remain in the parking zone while the disc drive is non-operational. The disc drive has a voice coil motor for moving the actuator, the voice coil motor including a magnet assembly having a pair of opposed magnet members supported by opposing poles. The latch is interposed between the poles, having a supporting member that supports a latch pawl pivotally between a latched position and an unlatched position. A first latch pole is disposed in a magnetic flux field of the magnet assembly to retain the latch pawl in the latched position when the disc drive is non-operational; a second latch pole is disposed in the magnetic flux field to retain the latch pawl in the unlatched position when the disc drive is operational. In the latched position a slot in the latch pawl receivingly engages a pin supported …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.